Dec 1, 2008

As an experiment, I spent six weeks (plus a few days) determined that I was going to cook from my embarassingly overstocked pantry/freezer/refrigerator rather than continuing to make new menus and go and buy new groceries each week.

See, I would go shopping every week and bring many things home. I would carefully freeze things and store things.

THEN, I would either slap together something quick like macaroni and cheese or eat fast food.

That was doing nothing good for my budget, my waistline, or my health!

I decided to inventory everything I had and commit myself to making 30 meals buying only four foods as needed: Lettuce, Milk, Apples, and Bananas.

My experiment led to LOTS of home cooking. It led me to experience creativity in the kitchen like I never had before. It also helped to reduce our outgo as my husband's business had a severe slow-down in his customers during the downturn from the economy and the holidays. (He's a paint contractor and does custom interior work.)

I documented my journey and the results. I've linked everything below. If you'd like to challenge yourself to cook only from your pantry, look through my activities and see if I can somehow encourage and inspire you!

What a great 30 day plan...your husband done a wonderful job on your pantry...in our old house we use to have a room off the kitchen I made into a pantry....I miss not having one now...you have a lot of great info on your blog...Have a Blessed dayTonja